Conner Marketing Group January 2018

A NEWYEAR’S HABIT Why Resolutions Fail and How to Beat the Odds

If you’re one of the 50 percent of Americans who view the new year as the perfect time to make a positive change in your life, the odds are stacked against you. Research from the University of Hertfordshire in the U.K. found that 88 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail. But don’t feel discouraged! You can be successful by knowing why others fail. Here are three steps you can take to help your New Year’s resolution beat the odds: Don’t Be Abstract According to Dr. BJ Fogg of Stanford University, New Year’s resolutions tend to fail because “people aren’t picking specific behaviors. They’re picking abstracts.” This means we’re identifying vague destinations we want to reach without creating a map for how to get there. While the abstract is a good place to start when determining a New Year’s resolution, you must also ask yourself, “How?” What action steps will you take to achieve that abstract resolution? “I’m going to enjoy life to the fullest and see a new play every month,” or “I plan on getting healthier by no longer drinking soda.” Start with tiny steps that you can build on for better habits in your life. relationship. Odds are everyone at your conference is trying to network just as much as you are. 3. Have a Card, Seriously Imagine this scenario: You’re at a conference and you just finish up a fruitful, engaging conversation. The person you’re talking to hands over their business card, and you realize you don’t have one to provide in return. Nobody wants to end up scribbling their contact information on a napkin. 4. Network From Home LinkedIn isn’t just for finding a job or screening employees. It can be a powerful networking tool for business owners. Because you can see the connections of your connections, it’s not hard to reach out to people in similar roles or industries. 5. Be Yourself Your personality and values should be an integral part of your business, and networking should be an honest conversation, even when the end goal is developing a business relationship. Be confident in who you are, and you’ll find that people will believe in your vision.

5 Networking Tips for Small-Business Owners Successful networking benefits all business owners, whether they’re just getting started or trying to grow their business. These face-to-face meetings with other entrepreneurs, however, can be awkward and difficult for some people. Interfacing with industry leaders, experts, and like-minded CEOs doesn’t have to be anxiety-inducing, even if you’re naturally shy. Here are some tips to help you network more effectively at your next industry seminar or small-business conference. 1. Prepare Beforehand There are a few great ways to get yourself into the networking mindset before an event. You should have a few talking points ready. It shouldn’t sound like a formal presentation with bullet points. A few words about who you are, what you do, and why you do it will suffice. And you don’t want every word drilled down. Remember, networking is not the same thing as a sales pitch. 2. Don’t Forget to Listen

Networking works best when it’s a two-way street. You can’t expect somebody to listen to you for five minutes, only for you to head to the snack table as soon as they start telling you about their company in return. The mutually beneficial nature of networking allows for a conversation about business to become a platform for building a

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